Comments

It was a PERFECT day for a parade...everyone enjoyed themselves...reaffirming, I'm sure!

Just a couple of rants:

Free Speach or Parade Violation???
We had a couple of "religious" bigots taunt the crowd PRIOR to the parade. Do they have a right to be on the street? I know the Pride Parade folks pay for permits, etc. And the Pride Assoc controls the parade entries, etc. These guys were NOT parade entries.

Should the police have told them to take their issues to the sidewalk...not the street?

Portland's Finest
Part of the cost of hosting such a parade is extra police staff. Justifiable I guess if you put cops on the street and not in Starbucks!

Of interest to me was that six of them sat in Starbucks on SE Taylor from 1115am to 130pm (the entire length of the parade). They were motorcycle cops...I sat adjacent to their helmets! (the helmets never moved from the window... looked like white Halloween pumpkins...scaring potential shenanigans!!!)

Were they waiting for a riot to occur so they could spring out of Starbucks with coffee cake in hand?...and whatever happened to mere donuts? I guess the pay scale HAS changed!

For many years I've been part of the Pride celebration. Unfortunately in recent years it's become somewhat irrelevant for me. I thank the people who work hard to produce it, and I understand that you can’t please everyone, but I do miss what’s been lost.

Possibly my greatest achievement as a gay man, other than finding fulfillment with my partner of 18 years, has been becoming a dad, something I was trained to understand could and should never be a possibility. But through creativity, adoption, commitment and a bit of defiance I’ve learned the joys of parenting. I’m a pretty good dad, so I’ve heard.

Pride celebration in Portland is regularly held on Father’s day. I think this is a mistake and a loss. This is a day I treasure and set aside as a private day for “my kids” and me.

Also, for a variety of good reasons I’m told, the Parade no longer runs through upper SW Stark Street, which has always seemed to me to be the gayest and most fagulous part of town. I used to love those few blocks. It was the very best the Parade had to offer. It was us being ourselves with no apologies, and it was a joyous example of being so far “out” that there could be no way to understand why someone would be in [the closet]. The gay businesses would set out grandstands, and treat us to music, banners, confetti, and the cheers of queens with sequins and feather boas; shirtless boiz in pants so tight there was no doubt; and leathermen singing show tunes. It was always raining men.

Of course the framing of the Parade as an assembly of “everyday people” is just as valid as anything else. But losing the special, unique, and at times totally outrageous flavor of SW Stark Street shows me that being just like everyone else has its costs.

Wish I could have made it out to the festivities. I hope to do so next year.

I did happen by the festival as I was heading down Naito Pkwy on my to PSU for a meeting. It looked as if people were having lots of fun. And if the crowds heading into the festival and leaving were any measure, there was definitely a good mix of people at the event.

It's too bad the event doesn't have the items listed above by Jim. I used to love going to the Westheimer Street Festival in Houston, and it had many of the things he listed above. I had a blast each time I went and I don't think I missed a single one from the time I had friends old enough to drive until I moved to Oregon. The parade went right down the heart of Houston's gay community in the Westheimer/Montrose area.

It was one of my gay friends who took me to the festival the first time, but after that we never missed one. Even my husband, who is a Republican, went to the festivals with us.

It is too bad the event is always on Father's Day. That does create a bit of a hardship on parents such as Jim. And by the time families like mine get done with family celebrations, it's usually too late in the day to make the festival.

Pride was great. I have seen the parade for the last 12 years. This was the best yet. People looked less exhausted, and much more comfortable.

Those guys who were taunting at the beginning of the parade weren't a part o the parade proper, but I think it wouldn't be a pride parade without them. I am not in the least surprised by their presence.

There were floats,
and music,
soldiers marching with flags
there were drag kings and queens,
christian groups,
folks from PFLAG
There were dykes on bikes,
and dogs underfoot,
gay yellow pages in bright yellow bags

True to controversy,
chests of all genders were bared
and sunscreen needed
in hope that skin be spared

of course, there were kids,
one marching as spongebob
and kids that were watching
sparkly drag queens, eyes agog.

Politicos marched,
while some rode up high
shaking all hands,
under a bright blue sky.

CAP handed out mints,
fireman gave out candy,
bike folks throw out fliers
the kids were dancin' from Rocky

An excellent Sunday
Father's day and all,
when I went home,
My father I called:

"Dad it is son, your oldest three,
a happy fathers day from my family and me."

you know, even after 12 years, I still tear up when I see the dykes on bikes. Its is the start of summer for me, and a sign that we are still free to be who we are (whatever you are).

Appreciated your comment on wishing the parade wasn't on Father's Day. My wife's father is gay, and for the last several years attempts to celebrate Father's Day with him have taken a back seat to his celebration of gay pride.

<h2>I don't see the point, or the wisdom, in placing this event on a day that should be about fathers spending time with children at home and celebrating a special family bond. Especially in an age of wide-spread absentee fatherism, we should all be behind the idea of holding seperate and sacred a day for fathers who are actually doing a good job...</h2>

To the Oregon Legislature:

Some large corporations pay nothing - zero - in income taxes to Oregon. Unfortunately, we don't know which ones or the specific accounting tricks and loopholes they use to avoid income taxes. It's wrong that working families pay more in income taxes to support schools and other public services than some of the largest corporations doing business in Oregon. We ask the legislature to enact corporate tax disclosure and let the public know which corporations are paying their fair share.

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To the Oregon Legislature:

Some large corporations pay nothing - zero - in income taxes to Oregon. Unfortunately, we don't know which ones or the specific accounting tricks and loopholes they use to avoid income taxes. It's wrong that working families pay more in income taxes to support schools and other public services than some of the largest corporations doing business in Oregon. We ask the legislature to enact corporate tax disclosure and let the public know which corporations are paying their fair share.

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This petition sponsored by BlueOregon Action and Oregon Center for Public Policy. By signing, you agree to receive email updates from BlueOregon Action and Oregon Center for Public Policy about this petition and other critical issues. (You may always unsubscribe, of course.) Learn more.